Commissioners had given preliminary approval to the ordinance earlier this month by a 3-2 vote.

After a public hearing Tuesday night at which seven of eight speakers criticized the ordinance, two commissioners said they had changed their minds and the measure was defeated 4-1.

Commissioners said a better approach to problems with teenage tobacco use would be to focus on improving educational programs and to crack down on merchants who sell tobacco products to minors.

Mayor James Vandergrifft was the lone supporter of the ordinance Tuesday night. Because of the tobacco industry's lobbying clout, Vandergrifft said tough regulations need to originate at the local government level.

''It has to happen somewhere,'' Vandergrifft said. ''Somebody has to take a stand.''

State law already prohibits retailers from selling tobacco products to minors. However, local ordinances that address possession of tobacco products by underage children are rare.

Since 1991, Jacksonville has had an ordinance that prohibits minors from having tobacco products in their possession.

Representatives from the American Lung Association, a group that tracks anti-smoking legislation, said they know of no other Florida city or county with such a regulation.

This year the Legislature defeated a bill that would have made underage tobacco possession illegal statewide.

The New Smyrna Beach ordinance would have prohibited anyone under 18 from having any type of tobacco product, including chewing tobacco. Violators could have faced fines up to $25, up to 50 hours of community service work or mandatory attendance in an approved tobacco education program where available.

The Ormond Beach City Commission discussed a similar anti-possession ordinance a few weeks ago and delayed a decision, partly to give the Legislature another chance to pass a law targeting underage tobacco users next year.

Proponents of the idea contend anti-possession ordinances are a logical progression of efforts to regulate smoking by young people.

They say local ordinances could send a message to tobacco companies not to target kids with advertising. Proponents also have compared tobacco possession ordinances with laws already on the books that prohibit minors from having alcoholic beverages.

Critics contend enforcement of the regulations would be difficult, particularly if teenagers could get around a local ordinance by simply driving outside the city limits to smoke.